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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Philadelphia Union today officially announced the signing of midfielder Zach Pfeffer to a professional contract as the club’s first Homegrown Player.

The 15-year-old, who recently returned from a two-week training with German Bundesliga TSG Hoffenheim, was a member of the Philadelphia Union’s U-17 squad that competed in the MLS U-17 SUM Cup in Houston, Texas, in July. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

Pfeffer becomes the first player to join the 2010 expansion team from the MLS Homegrown Player initiative, a program started in 2006 designed to provide increased opportunities for local players. Each MLS team may sign players from their respective youth development programs without subjecting those players to the MLS SuperDraft. Born January 6, 1995, Pfeffer is the fourth youngest player ever to sign an MLS contract, behind Freddy Adu, Fuad Ibrahim and recently signed New England Revolution Homegrown Player Diego Fagundez.

Pfeffer has represented the United States at all levels of the U.S. youth system, attending all the events organized by the National Team at the Under-14 and Under-15 levels. Prior to training with the Union, the young midfielder was a member of the U-15/U-16 USSF FC Delco Academy, as well as the Upper Dublin, Cheltenham, YMS, and Montgomery United youth clubs.